Wireless communication device interconnectivity

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device that is attached or included in an electronic object, such as a portable computer, having its own separate communication system. The separate communication system has an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless communications, and is powered by a power supply included in the object. Since the separate communication system can only communicate when powered, a separate passive wireless communication device is provided for wireless communication that does not require power from the power supply to communicate. The wireless communication device is interfaced with the existing antenna of the separate communication system so that the wireless communication device and separate communication system share a common antenna to reduce cost. The antenna may also be interconnected to a controller associated with the object so that the controller can directly communicate to the wireless communication device.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. provisionalpatent application No. 60/331,963, entitled “Wireless CommunicationDevice Interconnectivity,” which was filed on Nov. 21, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a wireless communication devicehaving an antenna that is directly interconnected to a controller sothat the controller has physical communication access to the wirelesscommunication device. Further, the present invention relates to awireless communication device connected to an antenna of a separatecommunication system wherein the wireless communication device and theseparate communication system share a common antenna for receivingand/or transmitting information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Wireless communication devices, such as transponders, arecommonly used to wirelessly communicate information about goods. Forexample, transponders may be attached to goods during their manufacture,transport and/or distribution to provide information, such as the good'sidentification number, expiration date, date of manufacture or “born on”date, lot number, and the like. The transponder may also be configuredto receive and store security information concerning valuable goods,such as a portable computer. The transponder allows this information tobe obtained unobtrusively using wireless communication with aninterrogation reader without slowing down the manufacturing,transportation, and/or distribution process.

[0004] It may be desirable to provide a transponder or other wirelesscommunication device that is also accessible for communications by aseparate controller or other communication system using a directinterconnection. The controller may desire to retrieve informationstored previously by an interrogation reader in the memory of thewireless communication device without having to employ wirelesscommunication with the wireless communication device. The controller mayalso desire to use the wireless communication device as a “mailbox,” ormemory storage area. The information stored by the controller in thewireless communication device's memory can be later retrieved by thecontroller and/or an interrogation reader. In this manner, thecontroller has effective use of the wireless communication device as aseparate memory storage area that can also be wirelessly accessed by awireless communication system. There may be any number of applicationswhere this functionality is advantageous.

[0005] A problem exists when coupling the wireless communication deviceto the controller to provide the “mailbox.” Since a wirelesscommunication device is usually provided in the form of an encapsulatedintegrated circuit (IC) chip, the only accessible interface to thewireless communication device is through the interface pins on the chip.Wireless communication devices typically do not contain an input oroutput port interface that allows communication through directinterfacing. Therefore, a need exists to find a method of directlyinterfacing a wireless communication device to a controller by othermeans, even if the wireless communication device was not intended toprovide this functionality.

[0006] Further, some electronic objects or other controllers have theirown wireless communication systems having an antenna separate from anywireless communication device that may be included with the controller.For example, consider a portable computer that has a Bluetoothtransceiver. The Bluetooth transceiver is coupled to an antenna that isused by the portable computer for short-range wireless communication.However, the portable computer must be powered in order to provide powerto the Bluetooth unit for wireless communication since Bluetoothtransceivers are not passive devices, meaning that they require a powersource to operate. It may be advantageous to provide a wirelesscommunication device, such as a transponder, on the portable computer sothat the portable computer may wirelessly communicate informationwithout being powered. However, a cost effective method must be providedfor doing so.

[0007] It may be desirable to store the identification of the portablecomputer in memory so that such information can be used duringmanufacturing and/or distribution for tracking. However, it may benecessary to communicate the identification information wirelessly evenwhen the portable computer is not powered on. A wireless communicationdevice coupled to the portable computer may be used to allow wirelesscommunication of information concerning the portable computer even whenthe portable computer is not powered, since the wireless communicationdevice can receive power from an incoming signal to provide power forcommunication.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to providetechniques for interfacing an external controller or other devicedirectly to a wireless communication device without interfacing with aninput port on the wireless communication device, something most wirelesscommunication devices do not provide. Further, another object of thepresent invention is to provide a cost effective manner to provide awireless communication device on objects already having a separatecommunications system, so that information concerning the object canstill be wirelessly communicated even if the object and separatewireless communication system are not powered and therefore notoperational.

[0009] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming apart of this specification illustrate several aspects of the invention,and together with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

[0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical interrogation readerand wireless communication device in the prior art;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceand antenna interconnected to a controller;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a UHF wireless communicationdevice and antenna interconnected to a controller;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a low frequency (LF) wirelesscommunication device interconnected to a controller;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a security system for a portablecomputer employing a wireless communication device according to thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram for the process of the securitysystem illustrated in FIG. 5;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceinterconnected to an antenna of a cellular or mobile phone, wherein thewireless communication device and the cellular phone share a commonantenna and are designed to operate at different frequencies;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceinterconnected to an antenna of a separate RF transceiver, wherein thewireless communication device and the RF transceiver share a commonantenna are designed to operate at similar frequencies;

[0019]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceincluded in a portable computer having a separate communication system,wherein the wireless communication device is interconnected to theantenna of the separate communication system when the portable computeris disconnected from a network connection or is powered off; and

[0020]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a reporting system that may beused in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention relates to a wireless communication devicethat is interfaced directly to a separate device or controller toprovide wired communication access from the controller to the wirelesscommunication device.

[0022] The present application claims priority to U.S. provisionalpatent application No. 60/331,963, entitled “Wireless CommunicationDevice Interconnectivity,” which was filed on Nov. 21, 2001. U.S.provisional application No. 60/331,963 is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

[0023] The wireless communication device has an antenna for wirelesscommunications, which is interconnected directly to the controller. Inthis way, the controller does not connect to an input interface or theinternal components of the wireless communication device, and can emit asignal onto the antenna of the wireless communication device thatsimulates a wireless communication signal emitted by an interrogationreader. The wireless communication device will detect the incomingsignal from the controller as if the signal was communicated wirelesslyfrom an interrogation reader. The wireless communication device willrespond as normal and as designed, thereby allowing the controller tointerface directly with the wireless communication device for anypurpose desired.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a wireless communicationdevice that is attached or included in an electronic object, such as aportable computer, having its own separate communication system. Theseparate communication system has an antenna for receiving andtransmitting wireless communications, and is powered by a power supplyincluded in the object. Since the separate communication system can onlycommunicate when powered, a separate passive wireless communicationdevice is provided for wireless communication that does not requirepower from the power supply to communicate. The wireless communicationdevice is interfaced with the existing antenna of the separatecommunication system so that the wireless communication device andseparate communication system share a common antenna to reduce cost. Theantenna may also be interconnected to a controller associated with theobject so that the controller can directly communicate to the wirelesscommunication device, as described above.

[0025] Before discussing the particular aspects, details, andapplications of the interconnectivity of the wireless communicationdevice according to the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 2-10of this application, a typical wireless communication system in theprior art that may be used with the present invention is discussedbelow.

[0026]FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication device andcommunication system that may be used with the present invention. Thewireless communication device 10 is capable of communicating informationwirelessly. The wireless communication device 10 may include a controlsystem 12, communication electronics 14, and memory 16. The wirelesscommunication device 10 may also be known as a “radio-frequencyidentification device” (RFID) or “transponder,” and any of thesepreceding devices are interchangeably applicable to the presentinvention. The communication electronics 14 is coupled to an antenna 17for wirelessly communicating information in radio-frequency signals. Thecommunication electronics 14 is capable of receiving modulatedradio-frequency signals through the antenna 17 and demodulating thesesignals into information passed to the control system 12. The wirelesscommunication device 10 is typically an integrated circuit (IC) chipthat is encapsulated and includes external interface pins. The antenna17 may be any type of antenna, including but not limited to a pole orslot antenna. The antenna 17 may be internal or external with respect tothe wireless communication device 10.

[0027] The control system 12 may be any type of circuitry or processorthat receives and processes information received by the communicationelectronics 14, including a micro-controller or microprocessor. Thewireless communication device 10 may also contain a memory 16 forstorage of information. Such information may be any type of informationabout goods, objects, or articles of manufacture, including but notlimited to identification, tracking, environmental information, such aspressure and temperature, and other pertinent information. The memory 16may be electronic memory, such as random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, or other type of non-volatile memory (NVM),or a diode, for example. The memory 16 may also be mechanical memory,such as a switch or dipswitch, for example.

[0028] Some wireless communication devices 10 are termed “active”devices in that they receive and transmit data using their own energysource coupled to the wireless communication device 10. A wirelesscommunication device 10 may use a battery for power as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,130,602 entitled “Radio frequency data communicationsdevice,” or may use other forms of energy, such as a capacitor asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,603, entitled “Implantable biosensingtransponder.” Both of the preceding patents are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

[0029] Other wireless communication devices 10 are termed “passive”devices meaning that they do not actively transmit and therefore may notinclude their own energy source for power. One type of passive wirelesscommunication device 10 is known as a “transponder.” A transpondereffectively transmits information by reflecting back a received signalfrom an external communication device, such as an interrogation reader.An example of a transponder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,280,entitled “Frequency diversity transponder arrangement,” incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Another example of a transponder isdescribed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/678,271, entitled“Wireless communication device and method,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

[0030]FIG. 1 depicts communication between a wireless communicationdevice 10 and an interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20may include a control system 22, interrogation communication electronics24, memory 2 6, and an interrogation antenna 28. The interrogationantenna 28 may be any type of antenna, including a pole antenna or aslot antenna. The interrogation reader 20 may also contain its owninternal energy source 30, or may be powered through an external powersource. The energy source 30 may include batteries, a capacitor, solarcell or other medium that contains energy. The energy source 30 may alsobe rechargeable. A timer 23 may also be coupled to the control system 22for performing tasks that require timing operations.

[0031] The interrogation reader 20 communicates with the wirelesscommunication device 10 by emitting an electronic signal 32 modulated bythe interrogation communication electronics 24 through the interrogationantenna 28. The interrogation antenna 28 may be any type of antenna thatcan radiate a signal 32 through a field 34 so that a reception device,such as the wireless communication device 10, can receive the signal 32through its own antenna 17. The field 34 may be electromagnetic,magnetic, or electric. The signal 32 may be a message containinginformation and/or a specific request for information from or taskperformance by the wireless communication device 10.

[0032] When the antenna 17 is in the presence of the field 34 emitted bythe interrogation reader 20, the communication electronics 14 isenergized by the energy in the signal 32, thereby energizing thewireless communication device 10. The wireless communication device 10remains energized so long as its antenna 17 is in the field 34 of theinterrogation reader 20. The incoming signal 32 is also amplitudemodulated to carry information in the form of data to the wirelesscommunication device 10. Data is communicated back from the wirelesscommunication device 10 to the interrogation reader 20 by modifying thewireless communication device's input characteristics. The change in thewireless communication device's input characteristics, which may beachieved by shorting some form of a transistor (not shown) across theinput of the wireless communication device 10, causes the incomingsignal 32 to be reflectively modulated with response information andre-emitted to the interrogation reader 20. This technique of a wirelesscommunication device 10 reflectively communicating a response back to aninterrogation reader 20 is well known in the art.

[0033] It is readily understood to one of ordinary skill in the art thatthere are many other types of wireless communications devices andcommunication techniques than those described herein, and the presentinvention is not limited to a particular type of wireless communicationdevice 10, technique or method.

[0034]FIG. 2 illustrates the wireless communication device 10 having anantenna 17 that is interconnected with a controller 40 using connectionpoints 42A, 42B. Connection points 42A, 42B may be any type ofconductive material that is capable of conductively connecting acontroller 40 or other electronic device to the antenna 17. The term“interconnection” or “interconnectivity” is defined as a direct couplingor connection throughout this application. The wireless communicationdevice 10 is capable of receiving wireless communications through asignal 32, using its antenna 17 as described above and illustrated inFIG. 1. In addition to being capable of receiving wirelesscommunications, the wireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG.2 is capable of receiving communications via a direct interconnectionwith the controller 40 through connection points 42A, 42B. In thismanner, the wireless communication device 10 can receive communicationsfrom two different sources: wirelessly from an interrogation reader 20and directly from a controller 40 or other electronic device through aninterconnection.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the wirelesscommunication device 10 can receive communications other than through asignal 32 emitted by an interrogation reader 20. The wirelesscommunication device 10 may be powered by a direct current (DC) voltage44 applied through a direct interconnect between the controller 40 andthe antenna 17A, 17B of the wireless communication device 10. Thecontroller 40 switches the DC voltage 44 on and off at a rate that issubstantially the same as the operating frequency of the wirelesscommunication device 10 and antenna 17. In this manner, the DC signal 44applied by the controller 40 onto the antenna 17 appears the same as awireless signal 32 from the perspective of the wireless communicationdevice 10. The controller 40 applies a signal 44 onto the antenna 17that simulates a signal 32 from an interrogation reader 20 so thatcommunication from the controller 40 is handled by the wirelesscommunication device 10 just as if the communication was received by asignal 32 emitted from an interrogation reader 20. The controller 40receives the response from the wireless communication device 10 bysensing the load on the power source.

[0036] In this configuration, the controller 40 is capable ofcommunicating to the wireless communication device 10 just as aninterrogation reader 20 would communicate to the wireless communicationdevice 10. The controller 40 may also desire to store data to and/orretrieve data from the memory 16 of the wireless communication device10. This is especially useful if the wireless communication device 10 isattached to an object wherein the wireless communication device 10contains information about the object, such as identificationinformation. The controller 40 may receive such information through theantenna 17 of the wireless communication device 10. For example, it maybe desirable for the controller 40 and an interrogation reader 20 toexchange information, but the controller 40 may not include its ownwireless communication system to communicate to the interrogation reader20.

[0037] In the present invention, the interrogation reader 20 andcontroller 40 are capable of exchanging information via the wirelesscommunication device 10. Since wireless communication device 10 andantenna 17 configurations are low cost and easy to manufacture, they areeasily interconnected to a controller 40 or other devices to providedata exchange with an interrogation reader 20 is done in accordance withthe present invention. Further, wireless communication devices 10 do nottypically include input ports, thereby making it impossible,notwithstanding the present invention, to directly interface acontroller 40 to the wireless communication device 10 for wiredcommunications.

[0038] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the wirelesscommunication device 10 is also capable of acting as a wireless“mailbox” in that the controller 40 has access to the memory 16 in thewireless communication device 10 for use as a storage device. A“mailbox,” in its broadest definition, is a storage device that iscapable of storing information. The controller 40 need only beinterconnected to the antenna 17 of the wireless communication device 10and capable of communicating a signal 44 having a protocol compatiblewith the wireless communication device 10. Any information stored by thecontroller 40 in the memory 16 of the wireless communication device 10may be accessed at a later time by the controller 40. Whether thecontroller 40 uses the wireless communication device 10 as a “mailbox,”or as a communication exchange medium with an interrogation reader 20,the present invention may be used for any application or purpose whereit is desirable for a wireless communication device 10 to be accessibleby a controller 40 or other electronic device via a directinterconnection and not solely through wireless communications.

[0039]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the controller 40 andwireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein thewireless communication device 10 is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID.The wireless communication device 10 is interconnected, via a connectionto the antenna 17 of the wireless communication device 10, to anyelectronic device or controller 40. In FIG. 3, the controller 40 isprovided in the form of a microprocessor 40A.

[0040] The wireless communication device 10 operates as designed and asnormal when receiving wireless communications via a signal 32 throughthe antenna 17, as previously described and illustrated in FIG. 1. Themicroprocessor 40A is interconnected to the wireless communicationdevice 10 through an input/output (I/O) device 50. The I/O device 50 isconnected to the wireless communication device 10 through a switchableinput/output (I/O) port 52 contained in the I/O device 50 that isconnected to an inductor 53, which is connected to one pole of theantenna 17A. The switchable I/O port 52 is the communication conduitbetween the microprocessor 40A and the wireless communication device 10.The other pole of the antenna 17B is connected to another inductor 54that is connected to ground. The inductors 53, 54 block thehigh-frequency signal 32 that is received by the antenna 17 from aninterrogation reader 20, but allow DC or low frequency signals from theswitchable I/O port 52 to pass through to the I/O device 50.

[0041] When the microprocessor 40A is powered down or is not emitting anoutput communications signal 44 to the antenna 17, the switchable I/Oport 52 is configured as an input device. The microprocessor 40Acontrols the output 55 of a pull-up output device 56 and the output 57of a second output device 58 in the I/O device 50 using a first outputsignal 59 that drives the second output device 58 and the pull-up outputdevice 56 into a tri-state mode. The pull-up output device 56 drives apull-up resistor 60 so that the microprocessor 40A does not load therectified signal 32 from the wireless communication device 10 orotherwise interfere with normal operation of the wireless communicationdevice 10.

[0042] When the microprocessor 40A is communicating to the wirelesscommunication device 10, the switchable I/O port 52 is configured as anoutput. The microprocessor 40A outputs a signal 44 through a secondoutput port 61 and the second output device 58 that is equivalent to therectified output of the wireless communication device's rectifier whenthe wireless communication device 10 is illuminated with an amplitudemodulated signal. The pull-up output device 56 is left in tri-statemode. This provides power to the wireless communication device 10 andallows the signal 44 to be sent to the wireless communication device 10.The microprocessor 40A then prepares to receive data from the wirelesscommunication device 10 by making the pull-up output device 56 an outputand setting it high, thereby making the switchable I/O port 52 an input.When the wireless communication device 10 modulates its input impedanceby switching its input transistor (not shown) on and off, thismodulation also pulls the input port 62 of the microprocessor 40A up anddown, using the pull-up resistor 60 as a load.

[0043]FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the controller 40 andwireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein thewireless communication device 10 is a low frequency (LF) RFID. Forexample, an LF wireless communication device 10 may operate at afrequency of 13.56 MHz. The wireless communication device 10 may beinterconnected, via a connection through its antenna 17, to anyelectronic device or controller 40. This embodiment is different thanthe UHF wireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 due tothe way that the LF wireless communication device 10 is designed tooperate.

[0044] A typical LF wireless communication device 10 has an antenna 17that is an inductive coil of wire 70, resonated with a capacitor 71 inparallel with the inputs 72 of the wireless communication device 10 toform an LC antenna 17. An LF wireless communication device 10 tends toclock its control system 12 and other internal logic from the incomingLF signal 32. Therefore, a controller 40 that is interconnected with anLF wireless communication device 10 needs to assert a signal 44 onto theantenna 17 of the LF wireless communication device 10 that uses exactlythe same protocol and frequency as a signal received from aninterrogation reader 20. This is in contrast to the UHF wirelesscommunication device 10 that would typically require the controller 40to assert a signal 44 that is equivalent to the rectified signal 32.

[0045] The circuit that is used to interconnect the controller 40 to thewireless communication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 operates asfollows. The controller 40 drives a frequency signal 44 amplitudemodulated with data from an output port 73 when the controller 40desires to communicate to the wireless communication device 10. Thefrequency signal 44 provides both power to the wireless communicationdevice 10 and data to be communicated to the wireless communicationdevice 10. The frequency signal 44 is coupled to a limiting resistor 74and a DC isolating capacitor 76 to the LC antenna 17. This creates asignal across the LC antenna 17 that is identical to the signal 32 thatthe wireless communication device 10 would receive from an LFinterrogation reader 20. Another DC isolating capacitor 78 is connectedbetween ground and the other input 72 of the wireless communicationdevice 10. When the wireless communication device 10 communicates backto the LF interrogation reader 20 by creating a short across the coil70, a higher current will flow through the limiting resistor 74 andcause the voltage to drop at the limiting resistor 74. A diode rectifier80, that is connected to the input 82 of the controller 40, detects thevoltage at the limiting resistor 74 and thereby recovers any informationor data that is sent by the wireless communication device 10.

[0046] One novel application of the present invention, as shown in FIG.5, is the use of the wireless communication device 10 and controller 40configuration, illustrated in any of FIGS. 2-4, in a portable computer90 for security purposes. A portable computer 90 may contain a wirelesscommunication device 10 and controller 40, wherein the controller 40 isinterconnected to the antenna 17 of the wireless communication device 10as previously described. The portable computer 90 may be connected to ahost computer 94 or other computer system through a network 92, wherebythe portable computer 90 is capable of sending and receivingcommunications over the network 92 from the host computer 94, and to andfrom the controller 40 in the portable computer 90.

[0047] This security application is illustrated in the flowchart in FIG.6. When the portable computer 90 is taken by its user when leaving asecure building or other facility, the user must indicate through aninput to the portable computer 90 that the user desires to transport theportable computer 90 (block 100). To transport the portable computer 90,the portable computer 90 obtains a permission token from the network 92,which is then written into the memory 16 of the wireless communicationdevice 10 by the controller 40 using the interconnection techniquesdescribed previously (block 102). The host computer 94 may only allowaccess to security tokens depending on the identification of the user.

[0048] Later, when the portable computer 90 is passed through a portalat the exit of the secure facility, the token stored in the wirelesscommunication device 10 is interrogated by the interrogation reader 20located at the portal (block 104). The interrogation reader 20determines if the token is valid (decision 106). The interrogationreader 20 is also connected to the network 92 so that the interrogationreader 20 is capable of receiving the same token as stored by portablecomputer 90 in the wireless communication device 10 for comparison andvalidation purposes.

[0049] If the token is valid (decision 106), the portable computer 90 isallowed to be taken from the secure facility since the host computersystem 94 is aware that the user previously obtained authorizedpermission to remove the portable computer 90 from the secure facility(block 108). The token may either be removed from the wirelesscommunication device 10 by the interrogation reader 20 or recorded bythe interrogation reader 20 as not being reusable in the future, so thatthe user must again obtain permission to remove the portable computer 90the next time the portable computer 90 is transported (block 110). Ifthe token is not valid (decision 106), the interrogation reader 20 cantake any measures desired or designed, such sending a response signaland/or controlling a visual or audible alarm or message, to indicatethat the portable computer 90 is not authorized to be removed from thesecure facility (block 112).

[0050]FIG. 7 illustrates another aspect of the present invention wherebya wireless communication device 10 not having its own antenna 17 isconnected to an antenna 122 of a separate communication system. In thismanner, the wireless communication device 10 is sharing the antenna 122of the other communication system, thereby eliminating the need for thewireless communication device 10 to provide its own antenna 17. Thisaspect of the present invention may be used in conjunction with theinterconnectivity of a controller 40 or other electronic device to theantenna 17 of a wireless communication device 10, as described above. Inthis embodiment, the operating frequency of the wireless communicationdevice 10 is different from the operating frequency of the antenna 122of the separate communication system.

[0051] The wireless communication device 10 is coupled to a matchingnetwork 120, which is in turn connected to the antenna 122 of a separatecommunication system 124. The separate communication system 124 may be acellular or mobile phone 124A that is designed to communicate at 920MHz, for example. The matching network 120 is provided to match theoperating frequency of the wireless communication device 10 to theoperating frequency of the antenna 122 and separate communication system124. The matching network 120 can prevent a transmission from theseparate communication system 124 from overloading the wirelesscommunication device 10. The matching network 120 may also prevent thewireless communication device's non-linear components to cause radiationof unwanted harmonics.

[0052] For example, the wireless communication device 10 may be designedto be interrogated by an interrogation reader 20 at one band, say 869MHz, and the cellular phone 124A may be designed to operate at a higherfrequency, say 920 MHz. The matching network 120 may provide isolationbetween the cellular phone transmission to the antenna 122 and thewireless communication device 10. At 920 MHz, the cellular phone 124A ismatched to its antenna 122, and the matching network 120 transforms theimpedance of the wireless communication device 10 to a very highimpedance so that its connection to the antenna 122 does not affect theelectrical connection between the cellular phone 124A and the antenna122. At 869 MHz, the matching network 120 transforms the wirelesscommunication device 10 to an impedance that matches to the impedance ofthe antenna 122 ensuring efficient power transfer between the antenna122 and the wireless communication device 10 for efficient operation.More information on impedance matching between a wireless communicationdevice 10 and an antenna 122 is disclosed in pending patent applicationSer. No. 09/678,271, entitled “Wireless communication device andmethod,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0053]FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present inventionwhereby the wireless communication device 10 is connected to an antenna122 of a separate communication system 124. However, in this example,the operating frequency of the wireless communication device 10 issimilar to the operating frequency of the separate communication system124. An RF transceiver 124B and wireless communication device 10 arecoupled to the same antenna 122 and intended to operate insidesubstantially at the same frequency band. The wireless communicationdevice 10 is coupled to the antenna 122 via a matching capacitor 130, aninductor 132, and a series of GaAs field emitting transistors (FETs)134. The capacitor 130 and inductor 132 form an LC circuit, and the FETs134 act as a switch.

[0054] When no radio-frequency power is present at the antenna 122 andthe input 136 of the wireless communication device 10 is 0 Volts, theFET 134 has its gate and source at the same voltage, and presents a lowresistance to the antenna 122. When the RF transceiver 124B transmits asignal, power is coupled into the wireless communication device 10causing the voltage at the input 136 to rise, but also simultaneouslyreversing the bias at the gate of the FET 134 and reducing the coupling.Ideally, the attenuation provided by the FET 134 allows the voltage atthe input 136 to rise to a point consistent with proper operation of thewireless communication device 10, but no higher, thereby limiting thevoltage at the input 136.

[0055]FIG. 9 illustrates a similar technique to that illustrated in FIG.8 whereby a wireless communication device 10 is coupled to a distributedantenna 122 inside a portable computer 90. The portable computer 90contains a wireless local area network (WLAN) or Bluetooth communicationmodule 140 so that the portable computer 90 can be connected to anetwork 92 or other system for external wireless communications. TheWLAN or Bluetooth module 140 inside the portable computer 90 is coupledto an antenna 122 for wireless communications. In this embodiment, theantenna 122 is provided as two poles on different sections of theportable computer 90. The wireless communication device 10 is alsocoupled to the antenna 122 at a common connection point 142. Theportable computer 90 is adapted to provide a signal to open a normallyclosed switch (not shown), disconnecting the wireless communicationdevice 10 from the common connection point 142 when the portablecomputer 90 is powered on and/or the WLAN module 140 is operable. Whenthe portable computer 90 is not powered on and/or WLAN module 140 is notoperational, the wireless communication device 10 is connected to thecommon connection point 142, via the normally closed switch, to connectthe wireless communication device 10 to the antenna 122.

[0056] Note that the switching of the wireless communication device 10to the common connection point 142 may be accomplished by other types ofswitches that may be automatic, controlled by sensing power from theWLAN module 140, or controlled by the portable computer 90. Thisembodiment may also be coupled with a data connection between the WLANmodule 140 and the antenna 122, like that described previously and inFIGS. 2-4, to allow the wireless communication device 10 to act as a“mailbox” for the WLAN module 140.

[0057]FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a reporting system that maybe provided for the interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20may be coupled to a reporting system 150. This reporting system 150 maybe located in close proximity to the interrogation reader 20, and may becoupled to the interrogation reader 20 by either a wired or wirelessconnection. The reporting system 150 may be a user interface or othercomputer system that is capable of receiving and/or storing datacommunications received from the interrogation reader 20. Thisinformation may be any type of information received from a wirelesscommunication device 10, including but not limited to identificationinformation, a security token, tracking information, information storedin the memory 16 of the wireless communication device 10 by acontroller, and/or other information concerning the wirelesscommunication device 10. The information may be used for any purpose.For example, the identification information of a portable computer 90having a wireless communication device 10 may be communicated to thereporting system 150 which may then be used for tracking, qualitycontrol, and supply-chain management for example. If the informationreceived by the reporting system 150 is not normal or proper, thereporting system 150 may control the manufacturing operations to stopand/or change processes during manufacture and/or alert personnel incharge of the manufacturing process.

[0058] The reporting system 150 may also communicate informationreceived from the wireless communication device 10, via theinterrogation reader 20, to a remote system 152 and/or the interrogationreader 20. The communication between the reporting system 150 and theremote system 152 may be through wired communication, wirelesscommunication, modem communication or other networking communication,such as the Internet. Alternatively, the interrogation reader 20 maycommunicate the information received from the wireless communicationdevice 10 directly to the remote system 152 rather than first reportingthe information through the reporting system 150 using the same orsimilar communication mediums as may be used between the reportingsystem 150 and the remote system 152.

[0059] The embodiments set forth above represent the necessaryinformation to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventionand illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention. Upon readingthe preceding description in light of the accompanying drawing figures,those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the inventionand will recognize applications of these concepts not particularlyaddressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts andapplications fall within the scope of the disclosure and theaccompanying claims.

[0060] It should be understood that the present invention is not limitedto applications disclosed in the patent application. It should also beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to any particulartype of component, including but not limited to the wirelesscommunication device 10 and its components, the interrogation reader 20and its components, the controller 40, a portable CPU 90, a hostcomputer 94, the matching network 120, the separate communication system124, including a mobile or cellular phone 124A or RF transceiver 124B,reporting system 150, and remote system 152. The present invention canbe used with any object including toys, calculators, watches,automobiles and their components, tires, etc. For the purposes of thisapplication, couple, coupled, or coupling is defined as either a directconnection or a reactive coupling. Reactive coupling is defined aseither capacitive or inductive coupling.

[0061] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements andmodifications to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Allsuch improvements and modifications are considered within the scope ofthe concepts disclosed herein.

We claim:
 1. A device, comprising: a wireless communication devicehaving an antenna for wireless communications, wherein said antenna isadapted to receive communication signals having a defined protocol and adefined operating frequency for processing by said wirelesscommunication device; and a controller that is directly andcommunicatively coupled to said antenna using at least one connectionpoint; said controller adapted to send communication signals emulatingsaid defined protocol and at said defined operating frequency over saidat least one connection point to said antenna, wherein said wirelesscommunication device is adapted to receive said communication signalsfrom said controller for processing.
 2. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid wireless communication device receives energy for operation fromsaid communication signals.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein saidwireless communication device contains memory wherein said wirelesscommunication device is adapted to store information received from saidcommunication signals in said memory.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid wireless communication device is interrogated by an interrogationreader.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said wireless communicationdevice communicates information in said memory to said interrogationreader in response to the interrogation by said interrogation reader. 6.The device of claim 1, wherein said controller is coupled to saidwireless communication device through an input/output port.
 7. Thedevice of claim 6, wherein said input/output port is switchable to allowcommunication signals to be sent from said controller to said wirelesscommunication device and to allow communication signals to be sent fromsaid wireless communication device to said controller.
 8. The device ofclaim 7, wherein said controller controls the output of a pull-up deviceto place the input/output device in a tri-state mode.
 9. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is a low frequencydevice.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said controller drives acommunication signal that is amplitude modulated and coupled using alimiting resistor and a direct current isolating capacitor.
 11. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device iscontained inside a portable computer.
 12. A wireless communicationsystem, comprising: a transceiver that is adapted to transmit andreceive communication signals at a first operating frequency; an antennacoupled to said transceiver wherein said antenna is adapted to transmitsaid communication signals and receive communication signals at saidfirst operating frequency for processing by said transceiver; and awireless communication device; and a matching network coupled betweensaid wireless communication device wherein said matching network matchesthe impedance of the wireless communication device to the impedance ofsaid antenna at a second operating frequency different from said firstoperating frequency so that said wireless communication device can toreceive communication signals at said second operating frequency forprocessing.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said transceiver is amobile phone.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said first operatingfrequency is 920 MHz and said second operating frequency is 868 MHz. 15.A portable computer security system, comprising: a portable computer,comprising: a wireless communication device having memory and an antennafor wireless communications, wherein said antenna is adapted to receivecommunication signals having a defined protocol and a defined operatingfrequency for processing by said wireless communication device; and acontroller that controls the operation of the laptop computer and thatis directly and communicatively coupled to said antenna using at leastone connection point; and said controller adapted to send communicationsignals emulating said defined protocol and at said defined operatingfrequency over said at least one connection point to said antenna,wherein said wireless communication device is adapted to receive saidcommunication signals from said controller for processing; and saidcontroller adapted to communicate over a network; a host computercommunicatively connected to said portable computer wherein saidportable computer is adapted to communicate a permission token requestto said host computer and said host computer is adapted to authorizedsaid permission token request communicate a permission token in responsethereto to said portable computer wherein said portable computercommunicates said permission token to said wireless communication deviceand said wireless communicated device stores said permission token insaid memory.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said wirelesscommunication device is interrogated by an interrogation reader.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein said wireless communication devicecommunicates said permission token to said interrogation reader whensaid interrogation reader interrogates said wireless communicationdevice.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said interrogation readerauthenticates said permission token by communicating on said network tosaid host computer to determine if said permission token is authentic.19. The system of claim 18, wherein said host computer authenticatessaid permission token by determining if said host computer previouslyissued said permission token.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein saidinterrogation reader generates an alarm if said permission token is notauthenticated.
 21. The system of claim 18, wherein said portablecomputer is allowed to be removed if said permission token is authentic.22. The system of claim 18, wherein said interrogation readercommunicates with said wireless communication device to erase saidpermission token from said memory if said permission token is authentic.23. A method of communicating with a wireless communication device,comprising the steps of: receiving a communication signal through anantenna wherein said communications signal is generated by a controllerdirectly coupled to said antenna; and processing said communicationsignal by a wireless communication device communicatively coupled tosaid antenna.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising poweringsaid wireless communication device using said communication signal. 25.The method of claim 23, further comprising storing information receivedfrom said communication signals in memory coupled to said wirelesscommunication device.
 26. The method of claim 23, further comprisinginterrogating said wireless communication device using an interrogationreader.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising communicatinginformation in said memory to said interrogation reader in response tothe interrogation by said interrogation reader.
 28. The method of claim23, further comprising switching an input/output port to allowcommunication signals to be sent from said controller to said wirelesscommunication device and to allow communication signals to be sent fromsaid wireless communication device to said controller.
 29. The method ofclaim 28, further comprising driving a communication signal that isamplitude modulated and coupled using a limiting resistor and a directcurrent isolating capacitor.
 30. A method of sharing a common antennafor communications, comprising the steps of: transmitting and receivingcommunication signals at a first operating frequency using an antennathat is adapted to transmit said communication signals and receivecommunication signals at said first operating frequency; matching theimpedance between a wireless communication device and said antenna whensaid antenna receives a communication signal having a second operatingfrequency so that said wireless communication device can receive saidcommunication signal at said second operating frequency for processingand such that said wireless communication device does receive saidcommunication signals at said first operating frequency.
 31. A method ofauthorizing transport of a portable computer, comprising the steps of:requesting a permission token over a network from a host computer;authorizing said permission token request and sending a permission tokenin response if said permission token request is authorized. receivingsaid permission token over said network by a portable computer;communicating said permission token to a wireless communication deviceby sending a communication signal directly to an antenna coupled to saidwireless communication device; and storing said permission token in amemory coupled to said wireless communication device.
 32. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising interrogating said wireless communicationdevice using an interrogation reader.
 33. The method of claim 32,further comprising communicating said permission token to saidinterrogation reader after said step of interrogating.
 34. The method ofclaim 33, further comprising authenticating said permission token bycommunicating on said network to said host computer to determine if saidpermission token is authentic.
 35. The method of claim 34, furthercomprising authenticating said permission token by determining if saidhost computer previously issued said permission token.
 36. The method ofclaim 34, further comprising generating an alarm if said permissiontoken is not authenticated.
 37. The method of claim 34, furthercomprising communicating with said wireless communication device toerase said permission token from said memory if said permission token isauthentic.